This Wednesday, at church, I had a moment. You know, a moment where you really, really wish you hadn't shown up because the message was directly addressed to you? And it wasn't all butterflies and rainbows. One section of verses Pastor Dave brought up caused me to have that moment. And in an effort to be a fully-honest-blogger....I just have to share when I have a moment. (Thankfully, this is not a meltdown-in-the-middle-of-the-commissary moment, but it is a moment nonetheless)
Philippians 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
I have actually heard - and read - these verses before....quite a few times.
But I had not taken hold of them.
Registered their full impact.
Do everything without complaining or arguing.....
Everything really encompasses a LOT. From the easy - enjoying snuggle time with the Beans... to the hard - figuring how to "do life" after you've slept 5-interrupted-hours the night before.
Everything.
That would include laundry. And dishes. And sweeping.
And cleaning the bathrooms. And cleaning puke. And taking care of accidents.
And dealing with a constantly changing schedule for My Love. And deployments.
And not having the schedule go as planned.
And being teamed up with people that are not-my-very-favorite.
And cleaning the bathrooms. And cleaning puke. And taking care of accidents.
And dealing with a constantly changing schedule for My Love. And deployments.
And not having the schedule go as planned.
And being teamed up with people that are not-my-very-favorite.
But here's the kicker. That whole non-complaining, not-pot-stirring, all-the-time business....is for a reason. And by being the opposite of those things (which is much closer to what I am) I am ignoring a key purpose of my life as a Christian.
...in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
I want to run this race for a purpose. For Something. For Christ. But when I cave to that oh-so-natural desire for complaining, arguing, and pot-stirring....I am running backwards.
So this year, I am going to try to NOT run in vain. I want to be a woman known for NOT complaining, NOT arguing, and being a peace-maker. It will be a challenge (as anyone who knows me can attest!) but I am going to try.
Because I'm God's girl....and I want to follow Him. In spite of my humanity.
As a Mommy of four girls, I constantly try to look at my job as a ministry. I also fall very short! All the work has a purpose and mine is to raise happy and healthy girls who know Christ is with them through it all. That no matter where we are He is always with us, guiding us. Sometimes it is very hard to see this ministry with the daily chores, especially when I am behind on all those tasks. I think Pastor Dave was speaking to me as well!
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